ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A CHILD/MARIJUANA ARRESTS

August 21, 2012- Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard reports the arrest of a Town of Yorkshire and Arcade man for Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Marijuana charges during a road check by the Sheriff’s Strike Force Unit in the City of Buffalo.

Erie County Sheriff’s Strike Force Deputies Neil Held and John Szczepanski were taking part in a safety road check on Jefferson Ave at William St in the City of Buffalo when a vehicle entered the check point driven by 21 y/o Alex D. Ruszala of Arcade. The other front seat passenger was 26 y/o William D. Mack of Yorkshire.

Deputies quickly smelled and then discovered that there was scattered marijuana debris all over the vehicle and the occupants clothing. Ruszala and Mack admitted to rolling a “blunt” just before the checkpoint and attempted to get rid of it before Deputies approached them. A 6 y/o male family member was found to be unbuckled in the back seat. Further investigation found the vehicle to be unregistered and the driver, Ruszala, had a suspended driver’s license.

Ruszala and Mack were arrested and both charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. Ruszala also got the added traffic tickets for the unregistered vehicle, suspended license, and failure to buckle the 6 y/o male.

Both were taken to the Erie County Holding Center on $500 bail or until their arraignment in the City of Buffalo Court.

The 6 y/o male was turned back over to his mother and the vehicle was towed to the Buffalo Pd. impound.